By repairing or re-using goods which still retain some operational value there are social, financial and environmental benefits in comparison to producing a brand new product.
Environmental benefits
- Reduction in demand on finite natural resources and the associated environmental impacts of the extraction, harvesting and processing of those resources.
- Minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste collection, transportation and treatment.
Financial benefits
- Lower costs of purchasing items (instead of purchasing new items at greater cost).
- Potential cost savings to residents in areas where they pay for bulky waste collections.
- Reduced local authority waste management budget (if handling smaller quantities of waste).
Social benefits
- Creation of jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups such as the long term unemployed, ex-offenders, those with disabilities etc.
- Creation of further options for volunteering in the community.
- Local residents can buy or obtain goods which they may have not been able to afford as new items.
- Increased social inclusion gained from people partaking in community activities.
- Certain re-use schemes can be linked to fundraising for the local community.
Item-specific benefits
WRAP has developed a product re-use tool showing the benefits of increasing re-use. In addition there are a number of item-specific reports which outline the benefits of re-use for that item:
Furniture
Benefits of re-use case study – office furniture
Benefits of re-use case study – domestic furniture
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment
The value of re-using household WEEE
Non clothing textiles
The viability of collecting non-clothing textiles
Clothing
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